Review Summary
Pros
- Some of Manhattan's most reasonable prices (the trade-off is very small rooms)
- Despite being tiny, rooms are somewhat stylish and are well-designed to maximize space
- Unique rooftop bar with hand-crafted cocktails, good views, and landmarked brick architecture
- Colorful, communal Playroom "hangout" space has a bar and two ping-pong tables
- Popular Mexican restaurant Salvation Taco, by well-respected chef April Bloomfield and restaurateur Ken Friedman
- Free Wi-Fi
Cons
- Few amenities in order to keep room costs down: no room service, fitness center, or business center
- Rooms are tiny
- Immediate neighborhood is unexciting, though several sights are within walking distance
Bottom Line
The idea of the 366-room Pod 39 hotel is to offer very small rooms (even by New York City standards, a city notorious for small hotels rooms) for low prices (again, by New York City standards). Rooms range from 55 to 140 square feet, and prices start at $119 per night. The smallest rooms, or pods, only fit one person, but all have private bathrooms and smart design touches, like storage under the bed, train-inspired coat hooks, double flat-screen TVs for guests in bunk beds, and both outlets and a "cell phone" close to the pillows. There are three seriously cool -- and colorful -- public spaces: an upscale Mexican restaurant, a rooftop bar with unique architecture, and a hangout space called the Playroom. The hotel keeps prices low by cutting back on amenities and services, but it's a great option for anyone who wants a low price tag without sacrificing cleanliness, comfort, and style.
